Door operating arm and rail



United States Patent This invention relates to an operating arm and railassembly for center-hung doors operatedby an overhead concealeddoor-closer.

Center-hung doors, generally equipped with some form of door-closingmechanism, are hinged on top and bottom pivotal mountings the pivotalaxes of which are vertically alined as close as practical to the jamb ofa door-way frame. These top and bottom pivotal mountings comprisecoaoting elements that are located, respectively, in or on the door endsand in or on the transom of the door-way frame and in or on the floorFor example, the top mounting element, which is secured to the transom,includes a depending spindle to which is attached an operating armsecured to the upper end of the door; and the bottom mounting element,which is located in or on the floor, includes a thrust bearing. on whichis ro-tatively seated a bracket element secured to the bottom end of thedoor.

Center-hung doors always have presented the problem of setting the doorin the door-way frame in such a mannor as to make possible a facilepositioning and securing of the door on the pivot mountings.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofdoor-operating arm and rail assembly for centerhung doors; to provide animproved door-operating device having an improved arm and rail structurepermitting a very 'facile connection thereof to and/ or disconnectionirom the requisite pivotal element; to provide an improveddoor-operating arm and rail in the form of telescoping parts separatelyattachable to the door and to the pivotal element to permit a quick-setof the door in the door-way opening and the quick removal of the door,:as circumstances may require; to provide improved means for locking thearm and rail in operative relationship; to provide improved means foreffecting the relative adjustment of the operating arm and rail toinsure a positive centering of the door in the door-way frame when thedoor is in its closed position; and to provide an improveddoor-operating arm and rail of this kind of such simple construction asto make very economical its manufacture, extremely facile its attachmentrespeotive-' 1y, to the door and one of the pivotal elements, and highlydependable-in its functioning.

in the adaptation shown in the accompanying drawin s: iFlGURE 1 is anelevational view of a conventional center-hung door indicating thepositioning of an improved door-operating device constructed inaccordance notched portions of the hub and cap form a rectangular withthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an assembled arm and rail which constitute thisdoor-operating device constructed v in accordance with this invention;

ice

of the two vertically alined pivotal elements which hinge a door in aframed opening and the other of which parts is adapted for seating inone edge of the door and for interlocking engagement with the first part'whereupon, the door being positioned in horizon-tally angulatedrelationship to the plane of the door opening, the parts of thedevice'm-ay' be shifted into telescopic relationship for the quicksetting'and securing of the door in functional position in the door-wayframe.

A structure embodying the foregoing concept, for use with a center-hungdoor 16*, comp-rises an arm part 11 and a rail part 12, formed -fortelescopic assembly and to be releasably retained in such relationship'by a latch 13, subject to a relative angular movement by an adustingmeans 14, andto be secured in adjusted position by a locking means 16. 1

A conventional center hung door 10, such as shown in FIG. 1, is hingedon pivotal mountings 17 and 18, indicated in dot-ted outlines.Generally, the upper pivotal mounting 17 is a concealed door-closingmechanism which includes .a vertically downward spindle 19 to which isattached the operating-arm device iZll'on the door 1d. The lower pivotalmounting 18 generally is a twopiece structure with a thrust bearing 22for positioning on or in the floor, and some form of bracket element forfixing on the door and provided with a thrust-bearing seat.v The spindle19 and thrust bearing 22 are vertical- ,ly alined usually closelyadjacent to the door way jamb 23. Such amounting for doors It) presentsthe major problem of facile positioning of the door on these alinedpivotal mountings and attaching the door to the spindle The :arm part 11and the railpart 12 could be variously formed. As shown here, the arm 11is a metal forging of rectangular cross section with a long taperedshank section 21 extending forwardly from an integrated and recessed hubsection 24 mou-nting'a complementary-recessed hub extension or end cap25. The rail 12 is channel-shaped and of a length somewhat greater thanthe over-all length of the arm 11, and is adapted to be mortised intoand secured to the upper end of the door 10.

The tapered shank 21 of the arm 11 is bifurcated at its outer end by anotch 26 for seating a circular nut 27 of the hereinafter describedadjusting means 14, and a transversely-disposed slot 28, inwardly of theouter end, for the reception of a retaining lug 29 on the latch 13. Atwill be explained presently, the slot 28 and the lug 29 are slightlyarcuate in form.

Adjacent the notch 26 is a threaded hole 30 positioned in the arm 11't0register with a transversely-elongated opening 31 in the outer end ofthelatch 13 for the reception of a screw 32 for locking the arm 11 and rail12 in FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled doo operatingarm and rail shown in FIG. 2, indicating in full and dotted outlines therespective positions of the latch whereby the arm and rail are retainedin or released from their functioning relationship;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional detail taken on the plane of the line44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from theplane of the line 5--'5 of that figure.

The essential concept of this invention involves two coacting parts oneof which parts is connected to one their angularly-adjusted relationshipfor centering the door 10in the door-Way opening.

j The arm hub-section 24 has the end cap 25 secured thereto by a pair ofbolts 33 and the complementarily opening 3 4 for the operativereceptionof the spindle 19 of the door-closing mechanism 17, the spindle19 being of non-circular section at this point for non-rotative'connection with the arm 11. The end cap 25 being mounted on the hubsection 24 in this manner makes for the facile attachment of the arm 11to the spindle 19 and for the exact vertical location of the arm 11'relative to the bottom pivot 22 to accommodate the door 10, as presentlywill be explained more fully. As indicated at 35 in FIG. 3,

opposite corners of the spindle 19 are transversely notched to providepassage for the bolts 33 of the end cap.

As shown, the lateral sides of the arm 11 are tapered toward theopposite ends of the arm from rounded shoulders 36 at the forward end ofthe hub section 24 which abut limit pins 37 (FIG. 2) for a reason whichwill be explained presently.

The rail 12, as previously mentioned, is of channel shape. Adjacent therear "end of the channel rail the flanges 38 are cut away for a shortdistance inwardly from the end and adjacently inward from the rear endof the flanges 38 are a pair of opposed transversely projecting lugs 41integrated with the top edges of the flanges 38. These lugs 41 seat theupper ends of the limit pins 37, the opposite ends of which pins areseated in the base of the rail 12, the pins 37 being disposed in closerelationship with the inner faces of the flanges 38. These pins 37contacted by the shoulders 36 on the arm 11 serve to properly locate thearm 11 in the channel 12 when the door is being mounted and also'constitute fulcrums about which the arm 11 can rock or swing under theaction of the adjusting means 14, as presently will be explained.

Pairs of holes 42 are formed in the opposite ends of the base of therail 12 for the insertion of screws for securing the rail 12 in properposition in the upper end of the door.

The latch 13 here is shown as a short inverted-channel shaped member, ofa size to nest within the rail 12 flush with the top edges of theflanges 38, and at its rearward end this member has the base cut away sothat the side flanges form a pair of ears '43. This latch 13 is hingedto the rail 12 by rivets 4-4 seated in the ears 43 and positioned on therail 12 about medially of its ends and so that when the latch 13 is inits nested position the opening 31 at its opposite end will registerwith the threaded hole 30 in the arm 11 when the latter is shoulderedagainst the limit pins 37. Inwardly adjacent the Years 43 a portion ofthe base of the latch 13 is struck out to form the short,downwardly-extending, arm retaining lug 29 previously mentioned. As willbe noted the perimeter of the opening 31, in the free end of the latch13, is beveled to seat the conventional tapered head of the lockingscrew 32 to provide maximum frictional bearing on the latch.

tThe adjusting means 14- includes the previously-mentioned circular nut27 rotatively threaded on a fixed shaft 45 spanning and secured to theflanges 38 of the channelrail 12. The nut 27 has a series of apertures46 in its periphery to permit the insertion of a pointed instrument, ifneeded, to turn the nut 27 for the hereinafter explained relativeangular adjustment of the arm 11 with respect to the rail 12.

When the arm 11 is secured in position on the rail 12 by the seating ofthe latch lug 29 in the arm slot 28 and with the nut 27 seated in thearm notch 26, the rounded arm shoulders 36 are in contact with therespective limit pins 37 (FIG. 2). Thus, the turning of the nut 27alters the longitudinal angular relationship of the arm 11 and the rail12 and adjusts the door relative to the arm to perrnit accuratecentering of the door in the door-way opening when the closer 17 is atits door closed position. This is particularly important in the case ofdouble-acting doors where door stops cannot be used. In the case ofsingle-acting doors the arm adjustment is usually made so that when thedoor is closed against the stops there will still be some tension, inthe closing direction, exerted by the closer mechanism. The taperinglateral sides of the arm 11, oppositely from these rounded shoulders 36,makes possible the aforesaid relative angular adjustment of the arm 11and rail 12 and it is because of such swinging of the arm 11 that thearm slot 28 and the latch lug 29 are made slightly arcuate in form topermit the unhinding relative movement of the lug 29 in the slot 28during the relative shifting of the arm 11 and latch 13 as the arm isadjusted by the turning of the nut 27.

Once the centering adjustment of the arm 11 and rail 12 has beenefiected, the parts are securely locked in that relationship by the firmseating of the screw 32 against the beveled margin of the latch opening31.

The use of this improved door operating arm and rail assembly foreffecting the quick setting of a door '10 on l the axially alinedpivotal mountings 17 and 18 is as follows:

The arm 11 has the end'cap bolts 33 backed off just enough to enlargethe hub' opening 34 to easily receive the end of the spindle 19, onwhatever type of door-closing mechanism is being used as a part of thepivotal mounting 17. Thereupon, the arm 11 is adjusted to its properheight above the bottom pivot 18 and the bolts 33 are tightened. The arm11 is then used to turn the spindle 19 about or rotatively, to thehold-open position of the door-closer mechanism, or, if the mechanism isof a non-hold type, the valve controlling the checking action should befully closed to prevent the spindle 19 from returning to the O or closedposition. Meanwhile, the rail 12 will have been accurately positioned bymeans of a template and attached in a suitable channel at the upper endof the door by screws (not here shown) seated in the holes 42.

Then, with the latch 13 retracted or opened, as shown in full outline inFIG. 3, the ventically-positioned door 10 is moved edgewise to cause thearm 11 to enter the rail 12. As the arm 11 moves into the rail 12, thelower door-bi-acketwhateve-r its formis set onto the thrust bearing 22and then, as the arm 11 moves into full telescopic relationship in therail 12, with the arm notch 25 seated over the nut 27, the latch 13 ismoved down into the closed, door-retaining, position shown in FIG. 4.This will cause the lug 29 to enter the slot 28 and firmly secure thedoor 10 to the operating arm 11.

The door 10 then is permitted to swing into its normally closed positionin the door-way opening. If, in "this closed position, the door is notabsolutely centered in the opening, or firmly against the door framestops in the case of a single-acting door, the door is swung to apartlyopen position to permit access to the adjusting nut 27. Theturning of this nut 27, one way or the other, will shift the arm 11relative to the rail 12 so that positive centering of the door 10 willalways occur when the door is permitted to swing to its normally closedposition under the action of the closer mechanism. Once proper angularadjustment of the arm 11 and rail 12 has. been effected, the screw 3-2is set to lock these parts in that adjusted relationship.

If, in the course of time, the door 10 should become slightly off centerin its closed position, a partial opening of the door will permit accessto the screw 32 and the nut 27 to make the necessary adjustment of thearm 11 to insure the desired center positioning of the door in itsclosed position.

When it becomes necessary to remove the door 10, equipped with thisimproved operating device 20, it may be accomplished as quickly as itwas set. All that is required is the partial opening of the door to itsholdopen position, removal of the screw 32, and lifting of the latch 13to disengage it from the arm 11. Thereupon the door may be drawnoutwardly to disengage the arm 11 and rail 12 and allowthe door to beshifted off from the thrust bearing 22.

If a door 10, equipped with this improved operating device 20 were alsoequipped with a lower bracket element and thrust bear-ing such as shownand described in my copending applications Serial No. 199,321, filedJune 1, 1962, and Serial No. 199,507 filed June 1, 1962, the setting andremoval of a door 10 could be accomplished more quickly than with theuse of some conventional lower pivotal mounting.

The main advantages of this invention reside in the arm and railconstruction whereby, each having been independently mounted on thecloser spindle and the door, respectively, the two elements can bereadily telescoped one within the other and quickly secured together sothat the door is fully supported in operative position; in thearrangement of the armand rail assembly whereby all necessaryadjustments for proper door operation can be made quickly, easily andwith simple tools; and in the fact that a center-hung door can bequickly mounted and secured in operative condition by one man andwithout the need for special blocking up to hold the door whileadjustments are being made. 1

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described it will be understood that details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A door-operating device for center-hung doors, com prising a pair oftelescopically positionable parts, having contacting pivotal shoulderspermitting relative angular adjustment of the parts in theirtelescopically assembled relationship,

one means for attaching one part to a door,

another means tor attaching the other part to a pivot spindle,

the pair of parts being shiftable into operative telescopic relationshipafter attachment to the door and spindle, respectively, by the settingof the door on an opposed pivotal mounting,

latch means on one of the parts shiftable into and out of position toengage the other part for locking the parts in operative telescopicrelationship, and

screw means interposed between the parts in their telescopicallyassembled relationship for eiiecting the angular adjustment of the partsrelative to each other.

2. A door-operating device for center-hung doors, comprising achannel-shaped rail adapted for attachment to the upper end of a door,

an arm shaped for telescopic positioning in the rail and having a hubfor attachment to a pivot spindle, abutting pivotal shoulders on therail and on the arm for limiting the telescopic positioning of the armin the rail and permitting relative angular adjustment of the arm.relative to the rail, the rail and arm being shiitable into operativetelescopic relationship after attachment to the door and spindle,respectively,

latch means hinged on the rail and shiftable into and out of position toengage the arm for locking the arm in operative relationship in therail, and

screw means rotatively mounted on the and engaging the telescopicallypositioned arm for effecting an angular swinging of the arm on thepivotal shoulders of the assembled rail and arm.

3. A door-operating device as set torth in claim 2 wherein the shoulderson the rail comprise a pair of transversely-opposed pins fixed inwardlyadjacent one end of the rail and juxtaposed to the respective flanges ofthe rail normal to the bottom thereof to fulcrum the shoulders of thehub, and the screw means is a. nut threaded on a rod extendingtransversely across the rail inward of the other end with the nut seatedin a notch in the opposed end of the telescopically assembled arm.

4. A door-operating device as set atorth in claim 2 wherein the latchmeans is a channel-shaped member hinged at one end medially oi thechannelasliaped rail tor straddling the telescopically assembled arm,the said member having a lug extending downwardly firom the base thereofand the arm having a transverse slot for seating said lug when themember is depressed into nested position in the rail over thetelescopically assembled arm.

5. A door-operating device iior center-hung doors, comprising an arm achannel-shaped rail adapted tor attachment to a door,

an arm shaped for telescopic positioning in the rail and having a hubtor attachment to a pivot spindle, abutting rounded shoulders on therail and on the arm for limiting the telescopic positioning of the aimin the rail and permitting relative angular adjustment of the armtelescopically positioned in the rail, the rail and arm being shittableinto operative telescopic relationship aiiter attachment to the door andspindle, respectively, latch means hinged on the rail and shiitalbleinto and out ot position to engage the aim for locking the arm inoperative relationship in the rail, screw means rotatively mounted onthe rail and engaging the telescopically positioned arm for eflecting anangular swinging of the arm on the pivotal shoulders or the assembledrail and arm, and locking means tor securing the bar inangularly-adjusted telescopic assembly with the rail. 6. Adoor-operating device as set fiorth in claim 5 wherein the latch meansis a channelshaped member hinged at one end medially of thechannel-shaped rail ior straddling the telescopically assembled arm, themom her having a lug extending downwardly iirom the base thereof andsaid arm having a transverse slot for seating the lug when the member isdepressed into nested position in the rail over the telescopicallyassembled arm, and the locking means comprises a screw extending througha transvensely elongated slot in the end of the latch member andthreaded into the end of the arm to permit setting the screw headagainst the latch member.

7. A center hung door-operating device comprising, an arm having anelongated shank section integrated with a wider and shorter hub section,clamping means forming a part of the hub section for attaching the armto the spindle of a pivotal mounting, the shank section of the armhaving a transverse slot intermediate the hub section and the oppositeend of the arm, a channel-shaped rail structured to telescopicallyreceive the arm in dooroperating position and to permit a limitedadjustment of the relative angulardisposition of the arm and rail, themail having apertures for anchoring the rail in the end of a door,shoulders on the rail inwardly them one end for contact with the arm hubsection adjacent its junction with the shank section and to fulcrum thearm in the rail tor angular movement therein, a channel-shaped latchhinged at one end to the rail intermediate the rail ends lfor swingingbetween a retracted position outwardly of the rail and a positionparallel with the rail and embracive of the shank section of the arm, alug on the latch seatable in the arm slot to retain the arm indoor-operating relationship within the rail, and means for swinging thearm about the rail shoulders. to adjust the relative angular dispositionof the arm and rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,373,955 Fuller i Apr. 17, 1945 2,972,788 Shean Feb. 28, 1961 2,987,756Hollansworth June 13, 1961 3,003,495 Coultrip Oct. 10, 1961 3,059,271Erilcson Oct. 23, 1962

1. A DOOR-OPERATING DEVICE FOR CENTER-HUNG DOORS, COMPRISING A PAIR OFTELESCOPICALLY POSITIONABLE PARTS, HAVING CONTACTING PIVOTAL SHOULDERSPERMITTING RELATIVE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE PARTS IN THEIRTELESCOPICALLY ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP, ONE MEANS FOR ATTACHING ONE PARTTO A DOOR, ANOTHER MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE OTHER PART TO A PIVOTSPINDLE, THE PAIR OF PARTS BEING SHIFTABLE INTO OPERATIVE TELESCOPIC